Label applying machine



March 29, 1966 J. M. ANDEREGG LABEL APPLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 50, 1962 INVENTOR JOHN M. ANDEREGG BY 76 M ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 J. M. ANDEREGG 3,243,329

LABEL APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 50, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 T I- 19' 55 3 Fl March 29, 1966 J. M. ANDEREGG LABEL APPLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 50, 1962 FIG.

Filed April :50, 1962- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

United States Patent 3,243,329 LABEL APPLYING MACHWE John M. Anderegg, Endicott, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 191,061 Claims. (Cl. 156-351) This invention relates to a label applying machine for attaching labels to one end of a case or carton.

An object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory machine for applying glue to one or more labels and sequentially pressing the labels against an end of a shipping case or the like.

Another object is the provision of a label applying machine wherein the position of the case to which the labels are applied is not critical and may vary within a range of several inches.

A further object is to provide a mechanized applicator for gluing on label cards having Hollerith punching or other holes, through which the glue may squeeze out and tend to make the label cards stick to the applicator rather than being readily released therefrom during the applying stroke of the machine.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective view of the label applicator according to the invention, showing the next case to which labels are to be applied ready to move into label applying position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a case assembly line in which the present machine is used;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine with certain parts omitted and shown in section, the applicator pad and supporting arm being illustrated in full line label applying position and in dotted line label loading position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine showing the applicator pad and supporting arm in label applying position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the applicator pad assembly shown applying labels to an end of a carton, the label having just been detached from the pad; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic electrical circuit for the machine.

In FIG. 1 the label applying machine is shown partially overlying a line of cases in a case assembly line. A box or case 11 is resting on a free-wheeling conveyor not here shown but is releasably clamped in place at the time the application is applying a sample card and an address label to the trailing vertical side of the box, only the address label 13 being shown in this view. The next case 15 in the assembly line is in position to move under the label applying machine. In the preferred embodiment being described, the cases 11 and 15 contain the familiar tabulating cards used in business machines and data processing machines, although it will be understood that the contents of the boxes is immaterial to the present invention. The label applicator applies simultaneously to each case in sequence both an address card containing mailing information of the customer to which the case is being shipped as Well as a sample card identical to those within the case.

In the schematic view of the box assembly line in FIG. 2, a partially folded case 17 is filled with bundles of cards 19 by the loading strokes of a loader mechanism 21. The next case 23 in the line is, in the meantime, being folded up and glued together. Succeeding cases 25 and 27 are in a compression area, each being pushed against a rigid side member 31 by a pusher mechanism 33. The cases move through the compression area by steps and, as the first case 25 is releasably clamped in place, the labels are applied 3,243,329 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 to its trailing end by the label applying machine, here indicated diagrammatically at 35, which straddles the box assembly line just in advance of the compression area.

The label applicator (see FIG. 1) is mounted on a rectangular frame 37 supported on legs 39 and having one or more intermediate braces 41 and 43. Secured to a side bar of the frame 37 is an angle member 45 having an upstanding leg in which is journaled a transverse shaft 47. The other end of the shaft 47, not here shown, is supported in a similar manner. The central portion of the shaft 47, between the brackets 45, is square in cross-section while that portion of the shaft extending through the brackets and outwardly beyond them is circular in crosssection. A bearing block 49 is slidable upon the square portion of the shaft 47 and has secured to it at one side a generally U-shaped supporting arm 51 to the free end of which is pivotally attached an applicator pad assembly here indicated generally at 53. The interior details of the bearing block 49 are shown schematically in FIG. 3 where it is seen that a suitable structure such as opposing pairs of rollers is employed whereby the block 49 is freely sliding along the shaft. Motion of the block 49 along the shaft 47, together with the attached arm 51 and applicator pad assembly 53, is achieved by an air cylinder 55 (FIG. 1) connected between the bearing block 49 and a portion of the shaft 47, to turn with the shaft. To provide for angular motion of the shaft 47, a crank arm 59 is secured to the end of the circular portion of the shaft outside of the bracket 45, and to the end of this crank is connected the rod 61 of another air cylinder 63. The other end of the air cylinder 63, sometimes hereafter called the swing cylinder since it swings the crank 59 to rotate the shaft 47, is secured by a bar 65 to the frame 37. As the swing cylinder 63 operates to rotate the shaft 47, it is readily seen that the supporting arm 51 and applicator pad assembly 53 are moved through approximately a 90 are from a position in which the arm 51 is substantially vertical, as illustrated, to another position in which the arm 51 is substantially horizontal. A microswitch 67 is engaged by the crank 59 to indicate the fully raised position of the arm 51.

Motion of the supporting arm 51 axially along the shaft 47 by the position air cylinder 55 in an in direction to a position approximately overlying the central portion of the case 11 is signalled by a limit switch 71 which is engaged by the bearing block 49. In the other or out direction when moving toward the side of the frame 37, the raised arm 51 at its limiting position engages a microswitch 73 mounted on a bracket 75 secured to the frame. The air cylinders 55 and 63 are controlled by solenoidoperated valves and are electrically coupled with the switches in a manner to be explained later with regard to the description of the electrical circuit of FIG. 6.

It is evident from the foregoing description that, starting with the position of the supporting arm 51 in FIG. 1, the arm 51 raises up to a fully elevated position and then moves out along the shaft 47 to the side of the line of cases. In this position, the applicator pad assembly 53 is oriented approximately horizontally and is in position to be loaded with the next label and sample card to be ap plied. As will be described in detail later, an address label 77 and a card sample 79 are inserted by the operator into a card loading station here identified generally at 81. The applicator pad assembly 53 picks up the two labels or cards and then traverses inwardly along the shaft 47 passing the cards over a glue roller 83, thereby applying glue to the bottomsides of the cards. Upon the completion of the inward stroke of the position cylinder 55, the supporting arm 51 is swung downwardly by the swing cylinder 63 to apply the two cards to the end of the next case 15 which, in the meantime, has moved into place.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the applicator pad assembly 53 comprises a main mounting or backup plate 85 having opposing bent-up side members 87 between which extends a crossbar 89. One end of the U-shaped supporting arm 51 is pivoted to the central portion of the crossbar 89 and the pad assembly is suitably retained from lateral movement by collars 91. The other opposing two sides of the backup plate 85 have narrow bentup strengthening flanges 93. Two stripper plates 95 and 97, each about the size of a tabulating card, are carried by the backup plate 85 and lie in approximately the same plane parallel to the backup plate, separated slightly from one another along their adjacent long edges. Each stripper plate is secured to the backup plate 85 by a pair of longitudinally spaced guide assemblies each comprising a stud 99, which extends through an aperture in the backup plate into a threaded bore in its respective stripper plate. A spring 101 surrounds the upper portion of each stud 99, bearing at one end against the backup plate and at the other end against a nut 103. Another nut 105 is fastened to the stud 99 between the backup plate 85 and its respective stripper plate 95 or 97. By this arrangement, the springs 101 normally urge the stripper plates 95 and 97 to an inner rest position with the nuts 105 abutting the undersurface of the backup plate 85.

In order to move the stripper plates 95 and 97 to an outward operative position at a greater separation from the backup plate 85, there is secured to the backup plate 85 two air cylinders 107 and 109. There is one air or stripper cylinder for each of the stripper plates, each extending through an aperture in the backup plate 85 and having a shaft or rod 111 whose end pushes'against its respective stripper plate. Air is supplied simultaneously to each of the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 by a common air hose 112 which is connected to the solenoid valve supplying air pressure to the swing cylinder 63. By supplying air to the stripper cylinders 107 and 109, it is seen that the rods 111 of the cylinders extend and move the stripper plates 95 and 97 outwardly.

At each of the four corners of the stripper plates 95 and 97 are card pickup units 113, each comprising a stud extending through an aperture in the backup plate 85, and secured thereto by a nut at either side. Each of the studs extends through a smooth bore in its respective stripper plate and has a pin 115 projecting from its forward end. With the stripper plates 95 and 97 at their inner rest position, the address label and sample card may be impaled by the pins 115 and can be released or disengaged from these pins by moving the stripper plates 95 and 97 to their outward operative positions extending beyond the ends of the pins 115. In this manner, the ad dress label and sample card are stripped off of the card pickup units 113 and applied to the vertical side of the case 11, as shown in FIG. 3.

The applicator pad assembly 53 is pivoted to the arm 51 to allow some freedom of movement in the event that the end wall of the base 11 is not exactly vertical. To prevent too free movement of the pad assembly, a rod 117 is fastened to the backup plate 85 at one end and at the other end passes through an eye 118 on the arm 51. Springs 119 surround the rod 117 and react against either side of the eye 118.

The card loading station 81 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) comprises a generally U-shaped housing 121 secured to the frame members 37 and 43, the topside being covered by a horizontally disposed card locator plate 123. The card locator plate 123 has a central longitudinal ridge 125 which cooperates with the sides of the housing 121 to provide two pockets having a width slightly larger than that of a tabulating card and approximately the same length. Within each of these recesses, the card locator plate 123 has a pair of parallel grooves 127 spaced to receive the pins 115 associated with each of the stripper plates 95 and 97. The glue roller 83 has four similar grooves 129 spaced from one another and in alignment with the grooves 127.

The glue roller 83 is mounted on a shaft journaled in extensions of the side members of the housing 121, and to one end of the shaft is secured a pulley wheel 131. A belt 133 engaged with the pulley 131 is driven by another pulley 135 operated by a motor 137. A glue pan 139 is supported from the housing 121 extending out below the glue roller 83 and is filled with a supply of glue so that as the motor 137 constantly rotates the glue roller 83, a new supply of glue is picked up with each revolution. A doctor blade 140 mounted above the glue pan 139 wipes the excess glue from the roller whereby a controlled amount of glue is applied to the picked up labels or cards. To the front of the housing 121 is secured a scoop-like card guide 141 having a central slot 143 in registry with the pockets formed by the card 10- cator plate 123 and the sides of the housing. At either side of the housing 121, toward the rear as the cards are inserted, are a pair of microswitches 145 and 147 which, as will be apparent from the discussion of the electrical circuit of FIG. 6, are normally in closed position but move to open position upon the insertion of the address label 77 and the sample card 79. The switches 145 and 147 have actuating arms which project inwardly above the card locator plate 123 and are operated independently as the set of labels is inserted. The purpose of this arrangement is that the sample card and label card for each case are included at the top of the stack 19 (see FIG. 2) about to be packaged. The operator of the machine is required to remove the sample and label card in order to have a supply of labels to insert through the card guide 141.

The previously mentioned bracket 75, on which is mounted the limit switch 73, also has secured to it an end of a horizontally disposed guide rail 149. The free end of the guide rail 149 is supported in any suitable manner and is downwardly sloping when viewed in elevation. A roller 151 is carried by the inner edge of the supporting arm 51 in position to just clear guide rail 149 when the arm is in is fully raised upper position. The label applicator machine, after a cycle of operation, will come to a restposition as shown in FIG. 3 with the'arm 51 raised and the applicator pad assembly 53 overlying the card locator plate 123. The stripper cylinders 107 and 109 are energized so that the stripper plates 95 and 97 are in their operative stripping position. The stripper plates 95 and 97 are spaced above the card locator plate 123 by about one-eighth of an inch, sufiicient to provide a slot into which the next sample and label cards may be inserted. In this starting position, the roller 151 is slightly raised off of the guide rail 149. When the cycle commences by the actuating of switches 145 and 147 upon inserting the two cards, the air pressure on the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 is relieved, as a result of which the stripper plates 95 and 97 retract, baring the pins 115. At this point, the effect of air pressure on the head side of the swing cylinder 55 swings the supporting arm 51 down clockwise until the roller 151 engages the guide rail 149. During this movement, the pins 115 impale the sample and label cards 77 and 79. Secured to the bracket 75, below the limit switch 73, is a double contact switch 153 which transfers from one point to the other when the arm 51 initially swings down. This serves to release the air from the head end of the air cylinder 63 so that the full pressure does not bear on the rail 149. The transfer of the switch 153 also initiates inward travel of the rod of position cylinder 55, causing the arm 51 and roller 151 to move across the rail 149. The picked up sample and label cards are carried along by the applicator pad assembly 53, and the cards tangent the glue roller 83 as a controlled amount of glue applied to them. During this travel of the appli cator pad assembly, the pins 115 travel in the grooves 127 in the card locator plate 123 and in the grooves 129 in the glue roller 83. The length of the guide rail 149 is chosen such that the trailing end of the cards must clear the glue roller 83 before the continued downward clockwise swinging of the arm 51 is allowed to continue.

In the interest of clarity, a brief summary of the operation of the label applying machine will be made without complete reference to the electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 6. In the position of the machine as shown in FIG. 1, case 11 is resting on a free-wheeling conveyor but is clamped in position. The supporting arm 51 and applicator pad assembly 53 have swung in a clockwise direction to the label applying position in which a label card 13 and a sample card, not here shown, are being applied to the vertical end wall of the case 11. As the next case 15 approaches, the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 on the applicator pad assembly receive compressed air, causing the two stripper plates 95 and 97 to move away from the backup plate 85 and strip the cards off the pins 115 which previously had impaled the cards to hold the cards on the applicator pad assembly. The swing cylinder 63 now receives air on the rod side, turning shaft 47 through crank 59 approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction to swing the supporting arm 51 and the applicator pad assembly 53 upwardly into approximately a horizontal position. Switch 67 is engaged when the arm is fully raised, and air pressure is applied to the head side of position cylinder 55 to move the arm 51 and pad assembly 53 axially on the shaft 47 until the applicator assembly 53 is located over the card loading station 81. Switch 73 is engaged and moved to open position. In the meantime, the case sealer assembly line has moved case 11 forward and case 15 has come into its place ready to receive sample and label cards.

At this point, the card applicator pad assembly 53 is located about one-eighth inch above the card locating plate 123, and the machine operator now inserts the next pair of labels 77 and 79 through the slot 143 in the card guide 141 between the stripper plates 95 and 97 and the card locating plate 123. The cards are received in pockets in the plate 123 and are separated from one another by the central rib 125. The insertion of the label and sample cards into the card loading station opens two switches 145 and 147 which, through a solenoid valve, puts air pressure on the head side of the swing cylinder 63. Since the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 are pneumatically coupled with the swing cylinder 63, air pressure in the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 is released and the stripper plates 95 and 97 retract under the force of the guide unit springs 101. Because of the pneumatic delay, the swing cylinder 63 then begins to extend, rotating the supporting arm 51 clockwise and causing the pins 115 on the applicator pad assembly 53 to press down and pierce the labels 7'7 and 79. During this motion, switch 153 is transferred from one contact point to the other, releasing the air from the head side of cylinder 63 and at the same time initiating movement of the position cylinder 55.

Position cylinder 55 receives air on the rod side and moves the supporting arm 51 inwardly along the shaft 47 with the roller 151 on the arm rolling along the guide rail 149. The sample and label cards on the applicator pad assembly 53 tangent the glue roller 83 and have applied to them a controlled amount of glue. Glue roller 83 is kept constantly rotating by the motor 137, and it will be recalled that the pins 115 on the applicator pad assembly travel through the grooves 127 in the card cator plate 123 and the grooves 129 in the glue roller 83. The arm 51 is held upwardly by the roller 151 until the trailing ends of the sample and label cards have cleared the glue roller, at which time the roller 151 runs off of the downwardly sloping end of the guide rail 149. Upon the completion of the inward stroke of the position cylinder 55, limit switch 71 is engaged and air pressure is applied to the head side of swing cylinder 63 to swing the supporitng arm 51 in a clockwise direction until the cards meet the case and apply pressure.

An electrical circuit such as, for instance, shown in FIG.

6 is provided comprising a plurality of switches, relays and solenoid valves suitably arranged to control the label applying machine in accordance with the operation described above. In the circuits, the switches already mentioned have the same numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 5. Switch 69 is a switch which is closed momentarily by the loading stroke of the case sealer loading mechanism 21 illustrated in FIG. 2. Switch 155 opens at the end of the case sealer stroke which moves the cases in a direction along the assembly line. The relays are identified as R1, R2, R3 and R4, each having a first contact a and in some cases a second contact b. Block 63' is diagrammatic of the solenoid valve controlling the swing cylinder 63, and has a normally open port position and a normally closed port position which ordinarily work together to control the flow of air to and from the air cylinder. The stripper cylinders 107 and 109 are controlled by this solenoid valve. Block 55 represents the solenoid valve controlling the flow of air to and from the position cylinder 55.

In describing the operation of the circuit of FIG. 6, a starting position for the machine is assumed in which the arm 51 is fully raised and in the out position with the applicator pad assembly 53 overlying the card loading station 81. In the fully raised position of the arm, the switch 67 is closed, thereby energizing relay R3 and closing the R341 and R3b contacts. Solenoid valve 55' is energized to cause the position cylinder 55 to be extended. Contact R3a is a holding circuit through switch 153. Switch 73 is engaged by the arm 51 and held in open position. Switch 155 has opened at the end of the case sealer stroke. Before the insertion of the label and sample cards 77 and 79, the relays R1 and R2 have been energized through either of the closed switches 145 and 147 and the holding circuit contact Rla. Contacts R11) and RM are thus held closed, so that the solenoid Valve 63' is energized holding the arm 51 fully raised and applying air pressure to the stripper cylinders 107 and 109 to hold the stripper plates and 97 in their outward operative positions.

When the operator inserts the sample and label cards 77 and 79, the card switches and 1 47 are moved to open position, thereby de-energizing the relays R1 and R2. Contacts R1!) and R211 are moved to open position, as a result of which solenoid valve 63 is de-energized. The solenoid valve 63' returns to its normally open and normally closed position, and the air load is applied to the head end of the swing cylinder 63 causing the arm 51 to move clockwise. As this happens, the switch 67 is opened, but the arm 51 is held in its out position through the holding circuit of switch 153 and the contact R3a. Upon the swinging of the arm 51 clockwise, switch 153 IS engagedand moved from one point to the other, thereby energizing relay R4 and closing contacts R4a and R411. The closing of contact R4a energizes only the portion of the valve 63 controlling the flow of air to the head end of the swing cylinder 63, opening the port at this end of the cylinder to release the air pressure tending to continue the clockwise rotating of the arm 51. As the switch 153 moves from one point to the other, the circuit to relay R3 is broken, thereby opening contact R3b and de-energlzing solenoid valve 55. Air cylinder 55 moves arm 51 axially in along the shaft 47. Relay R4 is held energized even though switch 153 transfers back through holdmg circuit RM: and switch 71 until the arm 51 has traversed to its limiting in position engaging and opening the switch 71. Contact R ta is now opened and the fully de-energized solenoid valve 63 allows the swing cylinder 63 to extend fully and swing the arm 51 further in a clockwise direction to apply the glued labels to the end of the carton 11.

At this point in the sequence of events, the case sealer loading stroke of the case loader 21 is being performed and the switch 69 closes momentarily. Switch 155 also closes as the case sealer stroke moves the cases forward in the assembly line. Relays R1 and R2 are energized 7 and held in through contact Rla and any of the four parallel switches 14-5, 147, 155 and 73. Both contacts Rlb and R2a are also closed, energizing the solenoid valve 63 and causing the swing cylinder 63 to move the arm 51 to a fully raised position. The switch 67 is closed by the raised arm 51, energizing relay R3 and closing contact R3b to energize the solenoid valve 55 and cause the position cylinder 55 to extend and move the arm 51 outwardly along the shaft 47. The arm 51 returns to its rest position in which the applicator pad assembly 53 overlies the case loading station 81.

Due to the arrangement of this controlling circuit, it will be observed that the label applying machine will not recycle until the end of the case sealer stroke (switch 155 is open), the arm 51 is in out position (switch 73 is open), and unless the two sample and label cards are inserted such that the switches 145 and 147 are open. Furthermore, the closing of the switch 69 is required by the case loader 21, assuring that there will be a new case in the assembly line; The release of air pressure from the head end of the swing cylinder 63 due to closing of the relay contact R442, together with the provision of the roller 151 engaging the rail 149, assures a controlled movement of the labels over the glue roller 83 without pressing down too hard upon the glue roller and impeding the proper application of glue.

The unique advantage of the present label applying machine is that the case 11 is not required to be in an exact position when the sample and label cards are applied. The position of the end of the case to which the labels are applied may vary by several inches, since the swinging supporting arm 51 continues to swing until the swing cylinder 63 is fully extended or is stopped at any point of its downward swinging path by the end of the case 11. Another advantage is the use of the card applicator pad assembly 53 having the piercing pins 115 which make card handling positive and reliable. The application of the glue to the labels, rather than to the end of the case 11, allows the amount of glue applied to be controlled more accurately and assures the glue will not be spread on the machine parts themselves. This is a desirable feature when applying Hollerith cards having punched holes in them.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A labelapplying machine for attaching at least one label to the trailing end wall of a case in an assembly line of cases, said machine comprising a supporting arm mounted above the assembly line at one end thereof for swinging movement between a substantially horizontal raised position and a lowered label applying position,

a label application pad assembly pivoted to the other end of said arm and having means for becoming disengaged from a label carried thereby upon movement from the label applying position,

means for mounting said arm for movement transverse to the assembly line between an in position aligned with a portion of the end Wall of the case and an out position in which said applicator pad assembly overlies a label loading station,

said applicator pad assembly having means for positively picking up a label at said label loading station in response to initial swinging movement of said supporting arm,

a rotating glue roller to the side of said label loading station over which the picked up label is moved upon transverse movement of the supporting arm from the out to the in position, and

power means and controlling circuitry therefor for operating said supporting arm through a cycle in which the label is picked up, glue is applied thereto as said arm moves transversely to the in position, and said arm is swung down to apply the label to the trailing end wall of the case and is then swung back up to the raised position and returned from the in position to the out position.

2. A label applying machine for attaching at least one label to the trailing end wall of a case, said machine comprising a supporting arm mounted at one end thereof above the case for swinging movement between a raised position and a lowered label applying position,

a label applicator pad assembly pivoted to the other end of said arm and having means for positively picking up a label and becoming disengaged therefrom,

means for mounting said arm for movement transversely of the end wall of the case between an in position aligned with the end wall and an out position in which said applicator pad assembly on said arm in raised position overlies a label loading station,

said applicator pad assembly picking up a label upon the initial downward swinging of said arm,

a rotatable glue roller over which the picked up label is moved upon transverse motion of the supporting arm from the out toward the in position, thereby applying glue to the label, and

power means and controlling circuitry therefor for operating said machine through a cycle of operations in which the label is picked up by said applicator pad assembly, glue is applied thereto as said supportingarm moves transversely from the out toward the in position, said arm is swung downwardly to apply the label to the trailing end wall of the case, the label is disengaged from said applicator pad assembly, and said arm is swung back up to the raised position and returned from the in position to the out position.

3. A label applying machine for attaching at least one label to the trailing end wall of a case, said machine comprising a supporting arm having an applicator pad assembly pivoted to one end thereof,

said applicator pad assembly having means for positively picking up a label and for disengaging the label therefrom,

means for mounting the other end of said supporting arm for swinging movement and for bodily translation in a direction transverse to the trailing end wall of the case,

power means for moving said arm between a loading position in which said applicator pad assembly is approximately horizontal and to the side of the case and a label applying position in which said applicator pad assembly is displaced inwardly and swung against the trailing end wall of the case,

a label loading station mounted in alignment with the loading position of said applicator pad assembly and into which a label is inserted to be picked up, and

a rotatable glue roller over which the picked up label on the applicator pad assembly passes during its passage between the loading and label applying positions.

4. A label applying machine for installation on an assembly line of cases for attaching at least one label to the trailing end wall of a case, said machine comprising a supporting arm having an applicator pad assembly pivoted to one end thereof,

said applicator pad assembly having a plurality of pins for impaling a label and stripper means for pushing the label off of the pins,

means for mounting the other end of said supporting arm for swinging movement and for bodily translation in a direction transverse to the assembly line,

power means for moving said arm between a loading position in which said applicator pad assembly is approximately horizontal and to the side of the case and a label applying position in which said applicator pad assembly is displaced inwardly and swung against the trailing end wall of the case,

a label loading station mounted in alignment with the loading position of said applicator pad assembly and into which a label is inserted to be picked up, and

a rotatable glue roller over which the picked up label on the applicator pad assembly passes during its passage between the loading and label applying positions.

5. A label applying machine for attaching at least one label to the trailing end wall of a case in an assembly line of cases, said machine comprising a supporting arm having an applicator pad assembly pivoted to one end thereof,

said applicator pad assembly having means for positively picking up a label and for disengaging the label therefrom,

means for mounting the other end of said arm above the line of cases for swinging movement and for bodily transverse movement to the side of the line of cases,

power means for moving said arm between a loading position in which said applicator pad assembly is approximately horizontal and to the side of the line of cases and a label applying position in which said applicator pad assembly is displaced inwardly and swung down against the trailing end wall of a case,

a label loading station mounted in alignment with and below the loading position of said applicator pad assembly into which a label is inserted to be picked up, and

a rotatable glue roller at the inner side of said loading station over which the picked up label on said applicator pad assembly passes during its passage between the loading and label applying positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,466 10/1916 Woodland 156-560 2,156,134 4/1939 Von Hofe 156572 2,266,087 12/1941 Schlemmer 156566 2,528,944 11/1950 Carter 156-571 2,940,630 6/1960 Carter 156351 2,983,398 5/1961 Carter 156566 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, M. L. KATZ, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A LABEL APPLYING MACHINE FOR ATTACHING AT LEAST ONE LABEL TO THE TRAILING END WALL OF A CASE IN AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF CASES, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A SUPPORTING ARM MOUNTED ABOVE THE ASSEMBLY LINE AT ONE END THEREOF FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RAISED POSITION AND A LOWERED LABEL APPLYING POSITION, A LABEL APPLICATION PAD ASSEMBLY PIVOTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ARM AND HAVING MEANS FOR BECOMING DISENGAGED FROM A LABEL CARRIED THEREBY UPON MOVEMENT FROM THE LABEL APPLYING POSITION, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ARM FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE ASSEMBLY LINE BETWEENAN "IN" POSITION ALIGNED WITH A PORTION OF THE END WALL OF THE CASE AND AN "OUT" POSITION IN WHICH SAID APPLICATOR PAD ASSEMBLY OVERLIES A LABEL LOADING STATION, SAID APPLICATOR PAD ASSEMBLY HAVING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY PICKING UP A LABELAT SAID LABEL LOADING STATION IN RESPONSE TO INITIAL SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORTING ARM, A ROTATING GLUE ROLLER TO THE SIDE OF SAID LABEL LOADING 